sccsiouxland

I just bought a 97 318ti with a flashing CEL under medium to hard acceleration then it stays on. The car seems to run fine until I give it anything over about a quarter throttle then it loses power and it starts to sputter. I had a local parts store do a scan and it is throwing a code of 303 that Is a missfire on the 3rd cylinder. I replaced the plugs and nothing changed. Before I start spending a couple hundred dollars on plug wires, coils, or take it to the dealer what can you recomend? Thanks in advance for your help.

First, don't panic. ;^)
Take it to Classic import.
I would wonder about the idle switch.
On first glance, the 303 code is not right.
Also, the "coil" is on each cylinder so one might be bad. Actually is mildly common.

I think if you got me and wheelz together, it would be fixed. I could point to BMW stuff and he knows how cars work.

What "reader" did they use? Code 303 doesn't appear to be a BMW code.

standard obdII. Not a BMW code reader. Do have one of those Russ?

I wish. But, I only have one OBD II car.

Wires looked original so I found a smoking deal on rock auto and ordered them this morning. Let's see if that helps.

That has wires?

Yep. 4 of them.

Sorry I did not reply sooner.

The best place to look for parts information on BMW's is at http://www.realoem.com This site has the parts manual for almost all of the BMW cars built.

Here are the Ignition Wires for the 1997 318ti. Prices are tend to be a little high.

No. Description Supplement Qty From Up To Part Number Price Notes
01 IGNITION WIRE ZYL.1 1 12121247523 $78.68
01 IGNITION WIRE ZYL.2 1 12121247524 $78.68
01 IGNITION WIRE ZYL.3 1 12121247525 $78.68
01 IGNITION WIRE ZYL.4 1 12121247526 $78.68

Some of the places I get parts from are:

http://www.bavauto.com
http://www.bmaparts.com
http://www.bmpdesign.com/

Another place to look for info is:

http://www.bimmerforums.com/
http://www.roadfly.com/bmw/forums/

If the wires dont fix it I will have to have a bmw fixing party for anyone who wants to come help. If that doesnt work its going in to the shop. The long commute in the miata is getting old. I want my bimmer back!!

If I'd actually be of any assistance I'd like to help. Btw, I saw you in the miata on the street before the last event, was that 'cause of the beamar?

Yep. Have been driving the miata for a few weeks now. Cant wait to drive the bmw again.

First of all... thank you Russ for calming my nerves!!! Jamie put the new wires in for me tonight and now it runs like a dream. Its great to have someone to fix your car when you are to much of an idiot to do it yourself. I do still need some assistance though. Tony, I need somone with small hands to tuck some wires. LOL!!! Also thanks Ron for the websites to look at for parts. I had no clue where to start on bmw stuff. We will see you all at the next race on the 12th. I will be driving the ultimate driving machine for the first time for an nasacross. I can't wait!

Glad to hear the car is running well. I had a similar problem with my NX a few months ago. The car ran roughly and smoked to the point I thought I'd blown the head gasket.

It turns out all the car needed was a new set of plug wires, and it runs fine now - better than it had in years.

Half the time under the hood it feels like I need plier hands!

Do a lot of people buy plug wires because of stuff like this or do they actually help responsiveness like manufacturers say?